Self-winding electric clock.



` R.,L. EIGHT. SELF WINDING ELECTRIC CLOCK. APPLIUATIN 111.1113sEPT.1o,`19o9.

Patented 11911111911..

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

INVENTO Ronerlll-High/ ffomey R. L. HIGHT.

SELF WINDING ELECTRIC CLOCK. QPLILA'LIOH FILED SEPT, 10, 1909.

rammed Feb.14,191`1.

R m w N 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

RobrzLHigm war . adaptedto receive any desired device for lTo alt whomit may concern:

. parts in the several figures ofthe drawings'.

ROBERT L. HIGHI, OF DECATUR, ILLINOIS.

SELF-WINDING ELECTRIC CLOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

rammed Feb. 14, 1911.

Application filed September 10, 1909. Serial No. 517,166.

13e it known that I, Ronnu'r L. HIGnT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Decatur, county of Macon, State of Illinois, have inventedcertain new and useful11nprovements in Self-finding Electric Clocks, ofwhich the following is a specification, refe-rence being had therein tothe accompanying drawing.

.l'lfIis invention relates to a self winding electric clock andparticularly to a structure adapted to be intermittently wound for apredetermined period and the rewinding thereof automatically controlled.

The invention has for an object to providea novel 'and improvedconstruction of the electrically controlled Winding umechanism and themeans for automatically actuating the same.

@ther and further objects and advantages of the invention Willbehereinafter' set forth and Athe novel features thereof delined by theappended claims.

In the drawings- Figure 1 is a perspective of the clock; Fig. 2 is avertical cross section therethrough; F ig. 3 is a detail perspective otthe clock supporting frame and the circuit connections therewith; Fig. 4is a front elevation of the clock movement upon its frame; Fig.v5 is avertical section through theclock movement with its frame in 4elevationand circuit connectionsin diagram; Fig. G is an enlarged verticalsection of the winding mechanism shown in Fig. 5; Fig. `7 is a detailperspective of the spring wheel, its shaft and wiper tliereolnand Fig. 8detail section thereof.,v

Like numerals' of reference refer to like The numeral 10 designates ,theclock easing which may be 'of any desired construction or configuration,for instance,4 in the case of an automobile clock it is disposed at anangle to the ianged back plate 11 which is provided with securingapertures 12 securing the casing in position. The casing is providedwith a cover 13 having a tia-nge 14 adapted to embrace the open end ofthe casingand to be secured thereon by means of a lug or projection 15by which it is frictionally held. This cover is provided with theusualgluzed opening 16 'and an indicating pointer 1T adapted to coperatewith the dial 18 ot the clock. The cover is freely rotatable upon thecase so that the pointerl 17 may be set to indicate-any desired timeupon the dial for the purpose of determining the lapsed time upon anytrip or for any other purpose.

The clock movement 20 may be of any desired character and is providedwith the usual hands 21 cooperating With the dial 18 which is spacedfrom the wall 22 of the glazed opening 1G as indicated in Fig. 2. Thisclock movement is supported upon a frame 23 provided with apertures 24by Vwhich it may be secured to the casing or the surt'ace upon which theclock is mounted by means of screws or other fastening de vices as shownat 25 and these being concealed prevent theft -or removal of the clockby withdrawal of the exposed fastenings from the anged back 11. Thisframe is provided with a series of posts 26 bifurcated at their freeends 27 and apertured to receive a supporting pin 28 upon which a coiledspring 29 is pivotally mounted at one end the opposite end thereof beingcon nected to the movement plate at 30 (Fig. 4). By this means themovement is yieldingly suspended so as to diffuse any vibration orsudden jar which would affect the operation or regulation thereof.

The frame 23 has secured thereto an insulated binding block 31 adaptedto receive circuit connections as shown in Fig. 3. The frame is alsoprovided with a post 32 upon which the socket 33 of an electric lamp 34is mounted. This lamp is disposed at one edge of the dial so as toilluminate the same and is fed by the conductor 35 extending therefromto the binding block and thence by the `line wires 36 to any desiredsource of electricenergy such as the battery 37 indicated in Fig. 5. Gnepole of this battery is con 4nected by a conductor 36 with a post 38.from

which circuit is taken for the winding meehanism through aconducting'spring 39 leading to a spring Contact 40 mounted upon aninsulated block 41 carried by the clock movement. The opposite pole ofthe battery is connected by a line 42 with a binding vscrew 43 fromwhich a line 44 extends to the Winding 'magnets 45 and from thesemagnets a line 46 extends to a contact 47 mounted upon and insulatedfrom the frame of the clock movement so as to cooperate with the springcontact 40. )ne of the conductors 36 is provided with a switch 48,suehasa push button which is in circuit with the binding screw 43 throughthe line 49. Then this switch is closed circuit is madethrough the lampto illuminate it While the circuit through the magnet is normally openand intermittently closed by the action 'of the contacts 40 and 47. Theconducting wires ent'er the casing through an insulated bushing disposedin alinement with the yoke 51 of the frame 23 by which the conductorsare protected against injury or short circuit.

The magnets 45 coperate with the armature52 pivotally mounted upon theframe of the clock movement 53 and provided with a lever arm 54depending therefrom. This arm has pivoted at itsifree end a pawl 55which is held in contact with ratchet teethv 56 of the spring wheel orbarrel 57 by means of the spring 58. This wheel is provided. with acoiled tension spring 59 as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 7 one endthereof being secured tothe wheel at 60 and the opposite end tothe shaft61 of the third wheel 70. The Winding Wheel is held in adjusted positionas fed in one direction by means of the pivoted pawl 62 held in contactwith the teeth 56 by means of the spring 63. 4Loosely mounted upon theshaft 61 is an insulated segmental wiper 64 provided with a pivoting eye65 to receive the shaft. 'The shaft 61 is provided with the usualdriving gear meshing with the cooperating parts of the clock movementfor actuating the same. The spring Wheel is rovided with apin 66 whichin its travel uring the winding action engages and moves the wiper armoff the contact spring 40 in order to break circuit when the'winding islcompleted while this arm is again brought into position by a pin 67carried by the constantly moving shaft 61 of the third wheel forinst-ance by means of a disk 68 thereon and thus restores contact fora'subsequent winding of the lower portion of the spring wheel during theperiod when the wiper'holds the spring contact in engagement with itscoperating contact. The spring wheel 57 has a lateral hub mounted in theclock frame and provided With a bearing socket for the shaft 61.

.lVith the parts in the position shown in Figs. 5 and 6 and the mainspring under tension, thepin carried by the shaft of the third wheelwill move the wiper into engagement with the spring vcontact and thusestablish circuit through the magnet which continues to intermittentlyoperate its armature so long as circuit is maintained through the springcontact. The lever arm of the armature engages the spring contact andforces it away from the fixed contact and thus breaks circuit While theWiper is in cont-act therewith to produce the continued vibration bywhich the ratchet of the spring` wheel is fed forward. During thisfeeding movement the pin upon said wheel engages thewiper and moves itoff the contact spring and the Winding action then ceases While theclock movement runs under the tension of its main spring until the-Wiperis again brought into engagement with the contact spring. The Winding isthus effected at intervals the duration of which may be va ried inaccordance with the proportions of the construction. I

The invention v presents a form. of self winding clock electricallyactuated and not reguiring winding or other attention so that it isespecially adapted for use upon automobiles or in other similar placesas the movement is suspended to prevent vibration thereof and the dialadapted to be illuminated Whenever desired for the purpose of readingthe same. The indicating pointer upon the rotatable cover of the case isadapted to be set in alinement with the hands upon the dial at anydesired time for the purpose of determining the expired time upon anytrip. It will 'therefore be seen that the invention presents a simple,eliicient and economically constructed form of self wind- .ing electricclock.

Having described my invention and set forth its merits what i claim anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is- '1.' In a 'time mechanism, aclock movement, an actuating spring therefor provided with a windingratchet, a winding magnet, an armature for said magnet provided with afeed pawl engagingsaid ratchet, means actuated by said ratchet forcontrollinga circuit to said magnet, a contact device disposed in saidcircuit and in the path of travel of said means, and means upon saidarmature to engage said contact device while said controlling means isin engagement therewith.

2. In a time mechanism', a clock movement, an actuating spring thereforprovided Witha wind-ing ratchet, a windingr magnet,

anarmat'ure'for saidmagnet provided with afeed pawl engaging saidratchet, a magnet contact',- a coperating spring contact, a segf mentalwiper. controlled by sald actuating spring for forcing said contact'intoengagement, and means controlled by said ratchet for moving said Wiperout of engagement with said spring contact.

3. In `a time mechanism, a clock movement,anactuating spring therefor, aWinding ratchet connected to said spring, a winding magnet, an armaturefor themagnet provided ywith a feed pawlengaging said ratchet` meansactuated by .saidspring for 'controlling the intermittent app ication ofcurrent to said magnet, a .contact :device disposed in circuit lwithsaid magnet' and in the path of travel of said means and means uponsaid'arlnature to engage said contact device While said controllingmeans in engagement therewith.

4. In a time mechanism, a clock movement., a spring 4wheel connected toactuate "said movement, ratchet teeth carried by said wheel, a windingmagnet, an armature pivotallymounted to coperate therewith and` havingan angularly disposed lever arm, ar

feed paWl pivoted upon said arm to engage said ratchet, a Contactcarried by said wheel for" controlling current to' said magnet, and

means actuated by said wheel to engage said Contact.

' 5. In a time mechanism, a clocky move ment, a spring wheel connectedto actuate` said movement, ratchet teeth carried by said wheel, awinding magnet,.a n armature pivotally `mounted to Vcoperate therewithand having a lever arm, a feed pawl carried by said arm to engage saidratchet, a spring for *retaining said pawl in Contact with saidratchet', and a spring contact for controlling current to said magnetdisposed in the path of travel of said lever arm when in closed circuitposition.

6. In a time mechanism, a clock movement, ay spring Wheel connected toactuate said movement, ratchet teeth carried by said wheel, `a Windingmagnet, an armature pivotally mounted to coperate therewith and having alever arm, a feed pawl carried by said arm to engage said ratchet, a!spring Contact for cont-rollingcurrent to said magnet disposed in thepath of travel of said lever arm when in Vclosed circuit position, awiper loosely mounted upon the shaft of the third wheel tp engage saidcontact, and a pin `carried by the shaft of said third lwheel to engageand shift said Wiper.

i'. In a .time mechanism, a clock move ment, a spring Wheel connected toactuate said movement, ratchet teeth carried by said,y

wvheel, a winding magnet, an armature pivotally Vmounted to coperatetherewith and having a lever arm, a feed pawl carried by said arm toengage said ratchet, a spring contact for controlling current to saidmagnet disposed in the path of travel of'said lever arm when in closedcircuit position, a `wiper loosely mountedupon the shaft of the thirdwheel to engage said contact, a pin carried by the shaft-of said thirdwheel to engage and shift said wiper a pin carried by said spring wheelto engage said wiper,

and a spring held Apawl `engaging sa1d` ratchet teeth to prevent reversemovement .of the wheel.

8. In a time mechanism, a clock movement, a driving` shaft gearedthereto, a ratchet whceha winding magnet, an armature pivoted tocoperatc therewith, a feed contact.

ypawl carried by said armature tov engage ysaid wheel, a main springconnected to said wheel and shaft, a wiper loosely mounted on saidshaft, a pin carried by 'said shaft to engage said wiper, a contactadapted to engage said wiper, and a magnet controlled feed device forsaid ratchet wheel in circuit with said Contact and having means tointermittently engage said contact while the Wiper is in engagementtherewith.

9. In a` time mechanism, a clock movement, a driving shaft geared`thereto, 'a

spring barrel carried by said shaft, a ratchet Wheel disposed upon theperiphery of said barrel, ai'i insulated wiper loosely mounted on saidshaft, a disk carried by said shaft and havingv a projection to engagesaid wiper, a contactdisposed in the path of travel of said Wiper, a pincarried by said barrel to engage said Wiper, an oscillating lever armhaving a pawl to engage said ratchet Wheel, and a magnetdisposed toactuate said arm when said Wiper engages said l0. In a time mechanism, aclock movement, a driving shaft geared thereto, a

ratchet wheel, a main spring connected to said wheel and shaft, aninsulated segmental wiper pivotally mounted on said shaft, a diskcarrled' by said shaft and provided with a lateral pin Ato engage saidwiper, av lateral pm carried by said wheel to engage` said Wiper, aspring contact disposed in the path of said Wiper, and a magnetcontrolled feed device for said ratchetwheel in circuit withsaidcontact.l

11. In a time mechanism, a supporting frame `provided with posts, aclock nievement mounted onl said posts, an electric lamp carried by saidframe to illuminate the dial of said movement, a binding blocltfcaryriedby said frame, conductors extending from said block to said lamp, asource of electrical energy provided with circuit connections to controlsaid lamp, a winding magnet upon the clock` movement, a contact incircuit with said magnet, a cooperating spring contact in rcircuit withsaid block, and means carried by said movement to automatically cont-rolsaid spring contact.

In testimony whereof I atiix mysignature in rn'esence of two witnesses.

ROBERT Ii. IIIGIIT.

Witnesses:

F. H. Prr'rMAN, B. E. CONVERSE.

ino'

